Hidden Betrayal (O'Connor Girls Book 1) Read online

  It caused a bit of a shouting match between her dad and Cora. When it came to his sister’s weird gift, he didn’t deal well with her playing cupid with his daughters. Although up until Dean had kissed her earlier, Kristy figured it would be the first time Cora the Cupid would be wrong, but there was a sliver of hope in her heart now. She hoped it didn’t get broken again.

  Chapter 9

  Outside the office, the rest of the group stood around quietly in conversation. Well, except Aaron. He seemed to have found his next conquest in one of the pretty nurses behind the reception desk.

  As he left the building, Dean shook his head. Aaron would pick up a woman anywhere. The guy was a walking hormone, and at thirty years old he showed no signs of settling down.

  Kristy parked in front of the main entrance leaned against the passenger side door. It was dark out, but the light from the doorway fell on her beautiful face as she gazed up at him. It was as if all the stress in his body disappeared and when she smiled his heart fluttered in his chest.

  God, he loved her, but he was terrified to admit it out loud. Everyone he loved was slowly getting ripped from his life. It started almost ten years ago with his mother’s death, then his father and now Peyton. If he lost Kristy, it would kill him.

  “I thought I was going to have to come in and drag you out.” Kristy pushed off the car and walked around to the driver’s side.

  “I needed to talk to Kurt.” Dean didn’t get into her car.

  “Did he give you a hard time?” Kristy groaned.

  “Not as much as he should have.” Dean shoved his hands into his front pockets.

  “Should you have talked to Keith or dad about all this? Yes. Was it your choice to do so? Yes. Were you a big idiot? That would be a big yes.” Kristy crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Gee, thanks.” Dean kept a safe distance from her.

  “You’re welcome but Dean it was your family and your business. None of us know what it’s like to be involved in this type of situation, but the fact of the matter is, it’s in the past, and the only thing that’s important is finding out who killed Peyton and get your sister out of jail.” Kristy opened the car door. “Come on. We’ll get a bite to eat on the way to my apartment.”

  “I’m not going with you.” Dean stepped back from the car.

  “Dean, you need to sleep and eat. Dad and the rest of the guys can deal with things while you get some rest. They need to start their investigation, and you can’t get involved. You know that.” Kristy motioned toward the building.

  “I’m not hungry, and I doubt I can sleep.” Especially if he was alone in a small apartment with Kristy. Even with all the shit on his mind, he knew that it was too tempting to be close to her.

  “Dean, I’m not arguing over this. Get in the damn car and come on.” Kristy snapped.

  “Kitten, I can’t.” Dean shook his head.

  “For fuck sake, do I have to get Nan out here because I will if I have to.” Kristy pointed her finger at him.

  “What’s your grandmother going to do? Pick me up and put me in the car.” Dean chuckled.

  Before he finished, Kristy pulled out her phone, and her fingers tapped furiously on the screen. Dean had no idea what she was doing. At least not until his phone buzzed in his rear pocket.

  He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. He knew the number because Nanny Betty added him to the family text group, but she wasn’t texting him. She was calling.

  “You gonna answer?” Kristy grinned as she tucked her phone into her pocket.

  “Hello,” Dean glared at Kristy as he put the phone to his ear.

  “Now young man, get in dat car wit Kristy. Yar not gonna be any good fer anyone if ya falls flat on yer face because ya aren’t lookin’ after yerself.” Nanny Betty’s demanding voice echoed through his phone.

  “I’m fine, Nan.” Dean pointed his finger at Kristy, but it only made her grin more.

  “No yar not. Don’t have me get Tom ta drive me out der ta duff ya in da arse.” Nanny Betty’s voice was firm, and there was no use arguing with the woman who was like a grandmother because she would make poor Tom drive out over the highway to give him that kick in the ass.

  “Alright, Nan. Don’t go making Tom drive at this hour. I’ll go and get a bite to eat.” Dean sighed.

  “Good, we’re all here for ya.” Nanny Betty’s voice cracked.

  “Thank you, Nan.” Dean ended the call.

  “Well?” Kristy wasn’t even trying to hide her laugh.

  “That was mean.” Dean held his phone up. “But I’m not getting in your car.”

  “I’ll call her again.” Kristy pulled her phone out.

  “Your car is a sardine can. I’ll follow you in my truck.” Dean didn’t give her a chance to respond as he turned and made his way to his vehicle.

  “I’ll text you the address,” Kristy shouted as he yanked open the door of his truck.

  Dean slammed the door and tipped his head back. He rubbed his hand over the stubble on his bald head. He’d given up on shaving his beard, but at the point he kind of liked it. He wondered what Kristy thought of it.

  Dean pulled into the parking space next to Kristy’s car. She’d sent a text and told him he had fifteen minutes to get to her place or she was going to call her grandmother again. At that moment Dean didn’t know if he was afraid she’d do that or if he only wanted to spend time alone with Kristy. After the kiss, he knew he didn’t have the willpower to deny himself of the very thing he’d wanted since the day he met her.

  He grabbed his bag from the back seat and hopped out of his truck. The building was two stories with ten apartments in total. They had separate entrances, and Kristy was in number seven. He walked down the brick path toward her door, but he didn’t miss the little dangers around the place. There wasn’t a lot of light in the parking lot or the walkway for that matter. It didn’t sit well with him.

  He stood in number seven and tried to calm his racing heart. He was a six-foot-four man that could bench press three hundred pounds and took down men that were as big or bigger than him but Dean ‘Bull’ Nash was terrified of what would happen when he entered the apartment.

  “Fucking coward.” He grumbled as he knocked on the door.

  “It’s open.” Kristy’s muffled voice shouted from inside the apartment.

  “Are you out of your fucking mind?” Dean snapped when he stomped into the apartment. “That could have been anyone knocking on your door.”

  “Wow, for a man who has his own security firm you aren’t very observant.” Kristy placed two plates on the small table in her little kitchen.

  “What are you talking about?” Dean dropped his bag inside the door.

  She pointed to the small television screen on her counter. How the hell did he miss the camera outside? He knew how. He’d been preoccupied with his racing heart and looking for non-existent danger.

  Dean slipped out of his jacket and hung it on the hook next to the entrance. When he walked further into the apartment, she placed two bottles of beer next to the plates.

  “Sit and eat. Nan sent lots of food out with Dad.” Kristy sat in one of the chairs and picked up her fork. “I heated it up, so dig in before it cools off.”

  The aroma of the roast beef with dark rich gravy made his mouth water. Nanny Betty’s food was the best, and he was a lot hungrier than he thought. He pulled out the chair and glanced at Kristy. She giggled as he eased into the small chair.

  “If you’d be more comfortable on the sofa you can take your food over there.” Kristy hitched her thumb over her shoulder. “Those chairs aren’t exactly built for someone of your size.”

  “Great, now you’re calling me fat.” Dean grabbed the fork and picked up a piece of the thick, rich beef. He shoved it into his mouth and moaned. “Damn that woman can cook.”

  “Yep,” Kristy smiled as she slowly ate her meal.

  “Thank you.” Dean smiled at her.

  “For what?” Kristy tilted her head
to the side.

  “For being so wonderful to Peyton and …” Dean swallowed hard.

  “And what?” Her bright blue eyes met his.

  “For being there for me today.” Dean pushed the plate back because the memory of Peyton’s lifeless body flashed in his head.

  “You need to finish eating.” Kristy stood and picked up her plate. “And you’re welcome, but you don’t need to thank me.”

  Dean watched her place her plate in the dishwasher and wiped down the counter for the third time. She’d changed into a pair of pajama pants and tank top that fit snuggly against her firm breasts.

  He hadn’t moved from the chair because his cock was painfully hard. He wanted to strip Kristy naked and worship every inch of her body and forget every reason he’d listed in his head why he had to keep his distance from her.

  “Do you want it?” She stood next to the table and gazed down at him.

  “Huh?” Did he say what he wanted to do out loud?

  “Your food. Are you finished?” Kristy pointed to the plate.

  “Oh, yeah. I’m done.” Dean pushed back from the table and made his way to her small living room.

  “You didn’t eat very much,” Kristy called after him.

  “I’m not hungry.” Dean plopped down on the couch to lay down. It was a good thing he probably wasn’t going to sleep because he’d never get comfortable. A man his size would never get comfortable on the lumpy couch.

  He tucked the throw pillow under his head and draped his arm over his eyes. One leg hung over the end of the couch, and the other stretched out on the floor.

  “Dean, the bed is more comfortable.” She startled him when she touched his arm.

  “Yeah, that’s not a good idea.” Dean kept his eyes closed.

  “Don’t trust me?” She laughed, and he opened one eye to look up at her.

  “It’s not you I don’t trust.” He growled because she had her arms crossed under her breasts. It pushed them up and enhanced the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra.

  Fuck my life.

  “Dean, I’ll sleep on the couch. I’ve been sleeping there anyway. You need to sleep.” She crouched next to him.

  “Kitten, why do you sleep on the couch?” Dean turned on his side and rested his cheek on his fist.

  “I don’t know. I’ve only been here a little while, and I feel more comfortable in the living room.” Kristy looked down at her leg and picked off what appeared to be an invisible piece of lint.

  “You’re not used to being so far away from your family.” Her whole family was never more than a few minutes apart from each other.

  “Dean, I’ve been living on my own since I was twenty.” The cute way she plopped down in the small armchair and sighed made his dick twitch.

  “Yes, but someone in your family was always at least two minutes away.” Dean turned his head so that he couldn’t see her.

  “Stop changing the subject and go sleep in the bed.” He hadn’t noticed how close she was until she tugged on his arm and his hand curled around her forearm.

  He looked up, and her gaze met his. It would be so easy to pull her on top of him and get lost in her, but that wouldn’t be fair. Kristy had feelings for him, and it would give her hope that they could have a future. It wouldn’t be a good idea until his sister was out of jail and he found out who killed Peyton.

  “Go to bed, Kitten.” Dean released her arm and turned into the back of the couch.

  “No, if you don’t go in there and get off my couch then I’ll sleep in the chair. So, either you go in the bedroom, or we’ll be sleeping in the living room together.” Kristy grabbed his shoulder and pulled him, so he had to turn over onto his back.

  “Kristy, go to bed.” Dean snapped.

  “I can’t because your overgrown ass is on it.” Kristy yanked on his arm again.

  “Are you calling me fat?” Dean chuckled.

  “Dean, will you please go to bed and let me go to sleep. I’m exhausted…..” Dean jumped up, and Kristy stepped back.

  “You are going to tell me why you don’t want to sleep in the bedroom.” Dean stood up slowly and took a step toward her.

  “I won’t be telling you anything because there’s nothing to tell. I like sleeping here.” Kristy stepped around him and quickly made herself comfortable on the lumpy couch.

  Dean stared at her for a moment as she made herself comfortable. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited until she looked back up at him. She didn’t. Kristy turned into the back of the couch and tucked her arm under the pillow.

  “Turn off the light on your way to the bedroom.” Kristy yawned, and he shook his head.

  Dean switched off the light and made his way to the bedroom at the back of the apartment. He found the light switch and flicked it on. The bedroom was average size with a double bed in the center of two windows. A white dresser with a large mirror was on the left side of the room with only a lamp on top of it.

  Dean found it odd that there was very little of Kristy’s things in her bedroom and she’d been so determined not to sleep in the room. He didn’t see anything off as he sat on the bed. It was definitely more comfortable than the couch.

  “So why don’t you want to sleep in here, Kitten,” Dean whispered.

  Dean lay back on the bed and tucked his hands under his head. He stared at the ceiling, and for the first time since he’d left Comfort Life Care, he allowed what happened to Peyton back into his thoughts. He should have stayed at the place to help, but he had to figure out how to tell Hannah.

  His sister seemed ready to give up on ever getting cleared of the murder charges. Now with Peyton gone, Hannah probably wouldn’t fight at all. He had to do something about getting a new lawyer for her because Trevor Poole wasn’t doing a damn thing to help her.

  Dean closed his eyes and tried to relax. It was quiet in the apartment it was why the soft scratching had him slowly sitting up. He flicked on the lamp next to the bed and glanced toward the corner of the room. At first, he wasn’t sure what he saw, but then it moved again. The small brown figure scratched at a box on the floor and Dean glanced around the room.

  The little mouse didn’t seem the least bit concerned when Dean eased his way off the bed to grab the empty glass on the nightstand. He was pretty sure catching the thing would be impossible, but he wasn’t getting any sleep he might as well do something.

  To his surprise, he managed to scoop the mouse into the glass with minimal effort.

  “So, are you the reason she avoids sleeping in here?” Dean whispered as the mouse stretched it’s body up trying to escape his small confines.

  He glanced out through the bedroom window but decided it would be cruel to put the thing out on the window sill eight feet off the ground. He opened the bedroom door and tried to ease his way to the front door quietly.

  “Okay little fella, you need to find another home,” Dean whispered as he eased open the front door.

  “Who are you talking too?” Kristy startled him, and he spun around.

  When she noticed what was in his hand, Kristy jumped up off the couch and ran out of the living room. It would have been comical if it had been any other day.

  “Get that damn thing out of here. Where the hell did you get that?” Kristy shouted from behind the bathroom door.

  “I’m bringing it outside.” Dean shook his head as he opened the door.

  Dean walked to the end of the parking lot to a grassy area away from the building. He crouched and tipped the glass slowly allowing the mouse to scurry into the grass and disappear behind a tree.

  When he came back into the apartment, Kristy was back on the couch with her feet curled under her and the blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

  “Toss that glass in the garbage.” Kristy squeaked.

  “You can wash it and disinfect it.” Dean chuckled.

  “Eww, toss it out and scrub your hands.” Kristy shivered.

  “Is Mickey the reason you haven’t been sleeping in your room, Kitte
n?” Dean dropped the glass into the garbage bucket.

  “I told the landlord, and he didn’t believe me.” Kristy pulled the blanket tighter around her.

  “He’s gone now so why don’t you go sleep in the bed. I’m not going to sleep tonight.” Dean plopped down on the couch next to her.

  “Are you freaking kidding me? I’m not going to sleep either. I need to find another apartment.” Kristy pulled out her phone and tapped the screen.

  “What are you doing?” Dean turned his head and studied her profile. She was so damn beautiful.

  “I can’t stay here.” Kristy shivered as she scrolled through something on her phone.

  “The mouse is gone.” Dean folded his hands together over his stomach.

  “There is never only one mouse.” Kristy cringed.

  “I didn’t realize you were afraid of mice.” Dean chuckled.

  “I’m not afraid. I hate rodents.” Kristy turned to glare at him.

  “I guess Kitten was the wrong nickname for you.” Dean laughed.

  “Asshole,” Kristy flicked her hand against his chest, and he grabbed her wrist.

  “Glad you realize what I am.” Dean gave her hand a gentle squeeze before he released her.

  Kristy sighed as she tossed her phone on the table next to the couch. She turned to face him, and he smiled as she was careful not to allow the blanket or her legs to touch the floor.

  “Why do you do that?” Kristy tilted her head, and her blue eyes met his. It took all his strength not to pull her into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless, but he wouldn’t be able to stop at just that.

  “Do what?” He didn’t even recognize his own voice.

  “Try to make me dislike you.” He’d pushed her away for so long he didn’t even know he did it anymore.

  “The question is, why do you like me?” Dean couldn’t understand how someone as smart and beautiful as Kristy would want him. Sure, he knew women were attracted to him and not because of his glowing personality.